OK everybody, this is it! The first entry in our great Pie Bakeoff of 2008. The Bakeoff is to compare our best recipes, share the pies that made our guests drool, and create a little more confidence in the world of pie-baking.

We're starting it off with a fabulous apple pie from baker Erin. Read on to see more about her Caramel Apple Crumb Pie, including lots of photos of the pie in progress, and her story on why this is her very best pie.

A note on this contest: We'll all just read and enjoy the recipes and stories as the entries in our Bakeoff roll in. We'll line up the best in each category in a couple of weeks and let you vote on the ones that stood out to you as the best. Please feel free to ask questions, give comments, and offer feedback on the recipes as they are posted. And if you try one out, let us all know how it went!

While I did not make my own pie crust, I did get to try out a fabulous frozen whole wheat crust, Wholly Wholesome, I purchased at Whole Foods. This pie crust was very good. I am not an experienced pie maker by any means! This was my first pie I've made since I was a kid. I did reduce the amount of syrup from the original recipe, because if you use the full amount, there is too much liquid, in my experience.

Why is this the BEST pie recipe you've got? After my bf's mother's sudden death, we visited his dad often to keep him company. During this time, we ended up eating quite a few frozen, store-bought apple pies, as comfort food in this tough time.

A few years later, my boyfriend still gets the urge for an apple pie. During this time, I've since learned to cook and bake, and the thought of a frozen pie with all its preservatives and yucky stuff grosses me out. I've caught him red-handed in the grocery store frozen food aisle with a pie in his hand more than once. I vowed to make him one, from scratch, using real ingredients. I found this recipe, and he loves it. Now when he eats this pie, it's not in mourning, he can look back and remember happier times.

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Faith is the executive editor of The Kitchn and the author of three cookbooks. They include The Kitchn Cookbook, coauthored with Sara Kate Gillingham, as well as Bakeless Sweets. She lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband Mike.